real perfons, I cannot but consider them as fo many abfurdities, which cuffom has unreasonably authorized. Thus Spenfer, in one of his Paftorals, represents the god of Love as flying, like a bird, from bough to bough. A fhepherd, who hears a rustling among the bushes, fuppofes it to be fome game, and accordingly difcharges his bow. Cupid returns the shot, and after several arrows had been mutually exchanged between them, the unfortunate swain discovers whom it is he is contending with: but as he is -endeavouring to make his escape, receives a defperate wound in the heel. This fiction makes the subject of a very pretty idyllium in one of the Greek poets: yet is extremely flat and disgusting as it is adopted by our British bard. And the reason of the difference is plain: in the former it is fupported by a popular fuperftition; whereas no strain of imagination can give it the least air of probability, as it is worked up by the latter:

Quodcunque mibi oftendis fic, incredulus odi.

HOR.

I MUST Confefs at the fame time, that the inimitable Prior has introduced this fa

bulous

bulous scheme with fuch uncommon grace, and has paid fo many genteel compliments to his mistress by the affiftance of Venus and Cupid, that one is carried off from obferving the impropriety of this machinery, by the pleafing addrefs with which he manages it: and I never read his tender poems of this kind, without applying to him what Seneca fomewhere fays upon a fimilar occafion: Major ille eft qui judicium abftulit, quam qui meruit.

To speak my opinion in one word, I would leave the gods in full poffeffion of allegorical and burlefque poems: in all others I would never fuffer them to make their appearance in perfon and as agents, but to enter only in fimile, or allufion. It is thus Waller, of all our poets, has most happily employed them: and his application of the story of Daphne and Apollo will ferve as an inftance, in what manner the ancient mythology may be adopted with the utmost propriety and beauty.

Adieu.

LETTER

I'

LETTER LVIII.

To EUPHRONIUS.

August 8, 1741.

KNOW not in what difpofition of mind this letter may find you; but I am sure you will not preserve your usual chearfulness of temper when I tell you that poor Hydafpes died last night.

I WILL not at this time attempt to offer that confolation to you, of which I ftand in fo much need myself. But may it not fomewhat abate the anxiety of our mutual grief, to reflect, that however confiderable our own lofs is, yet with refpect to himself, it scarce deferves to be lamented that he arrived fo much earlier at the grave than his years and his health feemed to promife? For who, my friend, that has any experience of the world, would wish to extend his duration to old age? what indeed is length of days but to furvive all one's enjoyments, and, perhaps, to furvive even one's very felf? I have fomewhere met with an ancient infcription founded upon this fentiment, which infinitely pleased me.

It

was

was fixed upon a bath, and contained an imprecation in the following terms, against any one who should attempt to remove the building:

QVISQUIS. HOC SVSTVLERIT. AV T. IVS SERIT.

VLTIM V S. S VORUM. MORIAT UR.

The thought is conceived with great delicacy and juftness; as there cannot, perhaps, be a sharper calamity to a generous mind, than to see itself stand fingle amidst the ruins of whatever rendered the world most defirable.

INSTANCES of this fort I am lamenting, while the impreffions remain fresh upon the mind, are fufficient to damp the gayest hopes, and chill the warmeft ambition. When one fees a perfon in the full bloom of life, thus deftroyed by one sudden blaft, one cannot but confider all the diftant schemes of mankind as the highest folly.

It is amazing indeed that a creature fuch as man, with fo many memorials around him of the fhortnefs of his duration, and who cannot infure to himself even the

next moment, should yet plan designs which

run far into futurity. The business however of life must be carried on, and it is neceffary for the purposes of human affairs, that mankind fhould refolutely act upon very precarious contingencies. Too much reflection, therefore, is as inconfiftent with the appointed measures of our station, as too little; and there cannot be a less defirable turn of mind, than one that is influenced by an over-refined philofophy. At least it is by confiderations of this fort, that I endeavor to call off my thoughts from purfuing too earnestly those reasonings, which the occafion of this letter is apt to fuggeft. This use, however, one may justly make of the present accident, that, whilst it contracts the circle of friendship, it should render it fo much the more valuable to us who yet walk within its limits. Adieu.

LETTER